Paulie Gee tells us more about his slice shop opening on 1st Avenue in the East Village

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy 

News broke last week that a Paulie Gee's slice shop was in the works at the former Dunkin' space on the NE corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street. 

On Friday, I stopped by the storefront and met Paulie Gee (aka, Paul Giannone, though he said to call him Paulie), who showed me the under-renovation space and answered a few questions about what we can expect here.

For starters, this space will be owned and operated by George Lin (below right).

"This [slice shop] is a franchise, a licensed shop, and it's run by George," Paulie said. "He's worked with me for years. He's the one who found this location and wanted to open the Paulie Gee's slice spot. It's a very visible location, a great block! We're excited." 

For his part, Lin said, "I wanted to open a good pizzeria, and Paulie Gee's is good. After working for him for a while, I told him I wanted to open a shop one day."

"I like hiring people who want to open their own business," Paulie said. "I like the entrepreneurs." 

There is a second foray into the East Village for Paulie Gee's. In December 2023, they were approved for a liquor license for the former Huertas space, a block to the south. But those plans didn't move forward.

"We were working with someone else, a real estate guy," Paulie said. "You know, I want to help people open their own spots, but it didn't work out, and he walked away from the project." 

So the big question — when will Paulie Gee's East Village Slice Shop be ready to serve? 

"Only God knows when the space will open," Paulie said. "We have a spot that's waiting to open in Gowanus. We're just waiting on the gas." 

Luckily, this space's kitchen is all electric, no gas, so the buildout should go much quicker. David Dean, the contractor and president of Precision Innovations, speculates it might even be open in March. 

Paulie explained the kitchen will have two PizzaMaster ovens, one for baking and one for warming/reheating.

Paulie and company are modeling the shop after their Greenpoint slice space, which opened in 2018.

"So if you've eaten there, it's a similar motif," Paulie said. "The space will have a retro feel, with black-and-white checkerboard tile floors, wood paneling, and a classic pizza focus. Nothing fancy." 

Expect the usual slices (plus Sicilian) and vegan options. (The vegan Vidalia is a favorite.) Coca-Cola products for now. They will eventually apply for a beer-wine license for anyone to anyone (21+) to enjoy while sitting at one of the four four-tops or the window counter. 

You can keep tabs on this location @pauliegeeseastvillagesliceshop.

Paulie Gee’s appears headed for former Dunkin’ space on 1st Avenue

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

Pizzeria sleuths have ID'd the former Dunkin' outpost on the NE corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street as the first Manhattan outpost of Paulie Gee's. 

Yesterday on Instagram, the Greenpoint-based pizzeria posted a Photoshopped preview of a new location with wraparound signage — which several sharp-eyed observers quickly pegged as the East Village.

The post didn't mention this neighborhood, just, "Can you guess where this is?"
 

We've popped our head inside the under-renovation space in recent months, and workers told us it would become a slice shop. (Photo below from Dec. 23.)

Paulie Gee's was previously exploring opening an outpost at 107 First Ave., the former Huertas space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. Reps for Paulie Gee's appeared before Community Board 3 in December 2023 for a liquor license. CB3 approved their application for the space, but Paulie Gee's chose not to move forward. (Adda later opened at the address.) 

Paulie Gee's also has shops in Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Paul Giannone opened the first location in Greenpoint in 2010, and the lines followed. Dunkin' closed here last May.

A slice from Paulie Gee's and a drink next door at the International sounds good to us. 

H/T @Vegan.NYC

Paulie Gee's Slice Shop in the works for the former Huertas space on 1st Avenue

Paulie Gee's is coming to the East Village. 

Reps for the popular Greenpoint pizzeria are on CB3's SLA docket tonight for a liquor license at 107 First Ave., the former Huertas space between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Paperwork (the PDF is here) shows that the space will hold 63 guests (16 tables) with an eight-seat bar. The proposed hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., with a 2 a.m. close Thursday through Saturday. 

This will be the first Manhattan location for the brand... which now has outposts in Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia. Paul Giannone opened the first location in Greenpoint in 2010, and the lines followed.

Huertas closed in August after 10 years in service. There's a new landlord for the building, and chef Jonah Miller said that he could not come to "suitable terms" for a new lease.

Tonight's SLA meeting starts at 6:30. Find the Zoom link at this link.

This is a hybrid meeting, and there is limited seating available for the public — the first 15 people who show up at the Community Board 3 Office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery.